FAIRMODE

Forum for air quality modelling in Europe

The main aim of this activity is to promote an efficient use of the methodological approaches and guidance developed so far in the other FAIRMODE working groups, to support and improve air quality management practices.

In the frame of this activity, pilot regions/cities apply and test the methodologies/guidance (assessment, source-apportionment…) developed within FAIRMODE to their local environment and associated data. The feedback received from the pilot regions/cities during this process then serves to improve the methodologies and guidance.

Specific aims of this activity are:

1 Strengthening the links between FAIRMODE and the local and regional Authorities;

2 Making sure these Authorities use the available FAIRMODE tools and methodologies in order to ensure that the whole modelling chain (including input data) is robust;

3 Improving the Fairmode support thanks to the Authorities feedback.

Pre-requisite to join the activity

To ensure efficient interactions between the Pilot regions/cities and FAIRMODE, these regions/cities already have some modelling tools available for assessment and planning purposes. In particular these pilots own an air quality model, gridded and sectorally detailed emission data as well as monitoring data to cover the most important pollutants requested by the Air Quality Directive (AQD). In the first phase of the Pilot, focus is on PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 for which yearly averaged analysis are performed.

Work plan

Assessment phase

The assessment phase consists in checking the quality of the air quality modelling chain by:

In the first option, FAIRMODE supports the pilot in the analysis of the default SHERPA results. Potential discrepancies between SHERPA and local knowledge are analyzed in terms of emissions, source apportionment and/or model responses (potencies and potentials). Improvements to the “default” SHERPA are made based on the outcome of the analysis.

In the second option, FAIRMODE supports the Pilot region/city in setting up its “local” SHERPA on the basis of model simulations and input data provided by the Pilot. Differences between the “local” and “default” versions are explored in terms of emissions, source apportionment and model responses (potencies and potentials).